Round 1, 2009 - Automatic selections.....

[reigning premier]

Who are the AUTOMATIC selections for round 1 this year?

Much talk about who should be selected, But who are our "guaranteed a spot players" this year???

I'd Suggest the following;

1. McVeigh
2. Mattner
3. Hall
4. Kirk
5. Goodes
6. O'Keefe
7. B1
8. B2
9. Jolly
10. Kennelly
11. Malceski
12. MO'L
13. Richards
14. Jack
15. Bird
16. Moore

16 Players that I think will be the core of the team in 2009 and Roos can do pretty much whatever he wants with the other 6 positions.

[liz]

Who are the AUTOMATIC selections for round 1 this year?

• MO'L
  
  
• Jack
• Bird
• Moore

16 Players that I think will be the core of the team in 2009 and Roos can do pretty much whatever he wants with the other 6 positions.

MOL is probably guaranteed a spot once fit, but that might not be for round 1.

I don't think the other three are guaranteed at all, though certainly Moore is more likely to play round 1 than not. Despite their excellent seasons in 2008, both Jack and Bird should and will be challenged by several of the other young up-and-comers and I reckon they are both far from automatic selections at this stage. We'll know more after the pre-season games.

On the other hand, there are two players missing from your list who I have very little doubt the coaching staff have mentally pencilled in as automatic selections, if fit. They've both been whipping boys of certain RWOers over the years but Bevan and LRT fit squarely into the best 22 at the moment.

Bevan turned into an excellent footballer in 2008 and his best and fairest finish demonstrated that. He is a Roos-type "toughie" and pretty versatile (if not as versatile as Connolly would have us believe).

LRT didn't have his best season in 2008 but was still far more effective than many on here give him credit for. Structurally he is vital to the team, and only White and Murphy on the current list look capable of challenging him for his role in future years. But if they prove worthy challengers it won't be in 2009. They are both still raw as, and aren't going to be given the job of playing on Brown or Richo or the like unless injuries make the team desperate.

[reigning premier]

Let's be honest though. Whilst we may all want changes carte blanche, it ain't going to happen if history is anything to go by.

Roos and the selection commitee have a track record of maintaining the central core of players and shuffling few players in and out. If we accept that, who's your 16 then??? (Or 15, or 14)

[liz]

Let's be honest though. Whilst we may all want changes carte blanche, it ain't going to happen if history is anything to go by.

Roos and the selection commitee have a track record of maintaining the central core of players and shuffling few players in and out. If we accept that, who's your 16 then??? (Or 15, or 14)

It's not about wanting changes carte blanche. I certainly don't.

But I interpret "guaranteed spot" players as being those who will play every game this year if they are fit (or close enough to fit, depending on who they are). I conceded your first 13, notwithstanding that MOL is the most likely not to be ready for round 1. Though I am not totally convinced Richards is a guaranteed selection each week. Given the type of role he plays, it is not inconceivable that a youngster could push him hard for his spot. I can accept others will argue Moore is as close to a "guaranteed spot" as one can be - though you've left Monty off, and if he regains his 2005/6 fitness and form and Moore drops off even a tad, it is more than conceivable that Moore will be fighting for his spot.

So I really disagreed with two (Jack and Bird) and added two others who, IMO, are far more guaranteed their spot each week - in Bevan and LRT.

Then there are other players who will almost certainly start the season ensconced in the coaches' best 22 but will have to show some ongoing form to stay there. Shaw is one, Crouch probably another, and Leo's another. And I'd include Monty in this group too.

So that leaves only three or so spots genuinely up for grabs for round 1. One of those will probably go to Currie/ White/ Pyke (as an outsider) as a second ruck. You'd expect Jack and Bird to be leading the pack of contenders for the others, but hopefully (for the sake of the team) they will be pushed hard by Barlow, Grundy, Smith, O'Dwyer, Schmidt, Laidlaw, Vezspremi at the very least, and maybe Meredith, White (as a defender if not as a ruck), Murphy, Thornton (depending on fitness).

[premiers05]

Let's be honest though. Whilst we may all want changes carte blanche, it ain't going to happen if history is anything to go by.

Roos and the selection commitee have a track record of maintaining the central core of players and shuffling few players in and out. If we accept that, who's your 16 then??? (Or 15, or 14)

who's the second ruckman?

[Dalai Lama]

2nd ruckman

Whip it - & Whip it Goodes?

[johnno]

Where's leaping Leo????

[ScottH]

Where's leaping Leo????

Still taping his ankles and shoulders and knees and ...

[goswannie14]

Where's leaping Leo????

On last years form he wouldn't be an automatic selection.

[AnnieH]

Whip it - & Whip it Goodes?

No Goodesy in the ruck.

Too important a player to have him stuck in one position.

[reigning premier]

It's not about wanting changes carte blanche. I certainly don't.

But I interpret "guaranteed spot" players as being those who will play every game this year if they are fit (or close enough to fit, depending on who they are). I conceded your first 13, notwithstanding that MOL is the most likely not to be ready for round 1. Though I am not totally convinced Richards is a guaranteed selection each week. Given the type of role he plays, it is not inconceivable that a youngster could push him hard for his spot. I can accept others will argue Moore is as close to a "guaranteed spot" as one can be - though you've left Monty off, and if he regains his 2005/6 fitness and form and Moore drops off even a tad, it is more than conceivable that Moore will be fighting for his spot.

So I really disagreed with two (Jack and Bird) and added two others who, IMO, are far more guaranteed their spot each week - in Bevan and LRT.

Then there are other players who will almost certainly start the season ensconced in the coaches' best 22 but will have to show some ongoing form to stay there. Shaw is one, Crouch probably another, and Leo's another. And I'd include Monty in this group too.

So that leaves only three or so spots genuinely up for grabs for round 1. One of those will probably go to Currie/ White/ Pyke (as an outsider) as a second ruck. You'd expect Jack and Bird to be leading the pack of contenders for the others, but hopefully (for the sake of the team) they will be pushed hard by Barlow, Grundy, Smith, O'Dwyer, Schmidt, Laidlaw, Vezspremi at the very least, and maybe Meredith, White (as a defender if not as a ruck), Murphy, Thornton (depending on fitness).

Put up or shut up Liz...

Put YOUR list in instead of shooting holes in mine.

[reigning premier]

who's the second ruckman?

A question that many of us are asking.

And is a second ruck man and AUTOMATIC selection?

[reigning premier]

On last years form he wouldn't be an automatic selection.

My thoughts exactly. Same reason Crouch isn't listed as an AUTOMATIC selection. They may have been "better-than-average" players in their time, but they shouldn't be left in the team based on previous seasons.

[Mountain Man]

LRT didn't have his best season in 2008 but was still far more effective than many on here give him credit for. Structurally he is vital to the team, and only White and Murphy on the current list look capable of challenging him for his role in future years. But if they prove worthy challengers it won't be in 2009. They are both still raw as, and aren't going to be given the job of playing on Brown or Richo or the like unless injuries make the team desperate.

I agree that LRT provides a different strength to the other defenders in the team.

In considering him as a 2nd ruckman, I note that he played there 7 times in 2008 - the first 5 games, then 2 more after stints by White, then 5 by Everitt. In those games, he was on-ground for some 60%, whereas when he was able to play in his usual position, he was on-ground for nearly the whole time. That is where he should be.

[connolly]

LRT didn't have his best season in 2008 but was still far more effective than many on here give him credit for. Structurally he is vital to the team, and only White and Murphy on the current list look capable of challenging him for his role in future years. But if they prove worthy challengers it won't be in 2009. They are both still raw as, and aren't going to be given the job of playing on Brown or Richo or the like unless injuries make the team desperate.

I agree that LRT provides a different strength to the other defenders in the team.

In considering him as a 2nd ruckman, I note that he played there 7 times in 2008 - the first 5 games, then 2 more after stints by White, then 5 by Everitt. In those games, he was on-ground for some 60%, whereas when he was able to play in his usual position, he was on-ground for nearly the whole time. That is where he should be.

One of the advantages of LRT as a second ruck is his mobility. He is very good at creating a marking option running into the forward line. He did this effectively in the 2006 GF after half time although carrying an injury when Jolly was completely shagged out and useless.